Happy Thanksgiving

 

 

As I watched this I was reminded of these verses….

Matthew 6:25-33  ~    Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.   Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?  And why take ye thought for raiment?   Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

It’s easy to get caught up in wanting more but so many of the things that society tells us are necessities are really just distractions that keep our eyes off of Jesus. 

Thank you Lord for knowing what I have need of and supplying my every need… truly I am so blessed.

Oh, Soul So Far Astray

 

I know there are people who think that “being good” is all it takes to make heaven, but yesterday was the first time I’d actually talked with someone who felt that way.  It breaks my heart that Jesus paid such a price for us and people either don’t know or don’t want to acknowledge his sacrifice.  “Being good” is a side effect of being saved, it’s not what gets you there.  There is only one way to God, Jesus said anyone who tries to come in any other way is a thief and a robber.

This song has been on my heart all day.  It’s my prayer for that woman and for everyone else who thinks they’ve found another way… “Oh, soul so far astray, come and plunge today in the blood that stained the old rugged cross”

(sorry it’s so shaky… this is the best video I could find in my quick search)

The Glory of God

 

I felt it yesterday as I prayed in advance for our bible study and all the women involved… it built as we gathered together and prayed in His Name for a sweet sister whose battling cancer… it built more today as I met with friends and broke the bread of life with them over lunch… it built even more as I prayed off and on throughout the day for different people and needs in my life… and then tonight as my pastor stood up and proclaimed the promises of God it burst out of and over me.  Rivers of living water flowing out. 

People who know me know how I am, and that doesn’t change when I walk through the church doors.  I’m not (usually) loud, don’t like drawing attention to myself, I’d rather just hang out in the background and be a wallflower.  But when the glory of God comes down there’s no holding back!

I’ve stood on mountains and stood in awe of His creation, I’ve stared up at the stars and wondered at His awesomeness, I’ve held my newborn babies and been overcome by His workings and attention to detail… but there is nothing like surrendering totally to the presence of God!  Leaving everything else behind and worshipping Him with all that I am… feeling His glory come down and those rivers of living water flowing out, nothing can compare!

I don’t know, we may whisper and sit quietly in awe when we finally make it to heaven… but I have a feeling there will be a little shouting and leaping for joy on those hills of glory, too!!  What a privilege to get a small taste of that here on earth!

Praise Him

I wrote a long post this afternoon… and my computer ate it.  It was really good, too, sorry ya’ll missed it!  The condensed version is when we draw nearer to God He will draw nearer to us and all those things that seem so impossible to overcome now… habits, addictions, stinkin’ thinkin’… will not be so hard because we’ll be letting Him handle it instead of trying to do it on our own.

I’ve been thinking today about answered prayer and recognizing the hand of God.  I don’t ever want to overlook what God’s doing.  A friend is in the hospital, Saturday things were looking really bad and they were expecting to have to do surgery… Sunday she’d made a huge recovery!!  Miracles like that are kinda hard to miss, but what about the things that are easier to overlook.  The light bulb moment when it all clicks and the boys understand and put into practice the things I’ve been trying to instill in them.  Or the light bulb moment when it all clicks and I understand and put into practice what God’s been trying to the teach me!  I pray that we never fail to give God the glory for every thing He does.

Bless the Lord

 

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. 
Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

This psalm was on my tongue tonight as I knelt down to pray.  I can’t quote it all but it was in my heart.  Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, bless His holy name!  Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget not all His benefits!!   Just look at all He has done for me… it takes my breath away… and when I think of how often I fail Him I’m humbled… and yet He has not dealt with me after my sins or rewarded me according to my iniquities, for as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy to them that fear Him.  Bless the Lord, O my soul!!

We also sang this song tonight.  Ever wonder what your purpose is?? Here it is… this is one of my favorites, never fails to sharpen my focus.